NPR News: 06-28-2026 3PM EDT

Summary

NPR News Now – 06-28-2026 3PM EDT

Host: Nora Ram
Date: June 28, 2026
Duration: ~5 minutes

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Episode Overview

This concise NPR News Now update delivers the latest major global and national headlines, focusing on escalating tensions between Iran and the U.S., the devastation in Venezuela following massive earthquakes, political gridlock in Washington over housing legislation, a tragic plane crash in France, Mel Brooks' centenary celebration, and NASA’s urgent mission to save an aging space observatory.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Iran-Bahrain-Kuwait Tensions & Strait of Hormuz

[00:17 – 01:13]

• Summary: Overnight, Iran launched significant drone and missile attacks in Bahrain and Kuwait. These strikes are said to be retaliation for recent U.S. airstrikes on Tehran.
• Context: Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Aradji, speaking via a BBC interpreter, called for all parties to honor the existing memo of understanding with the U.S.
• Strait of Hormuz: The narrow, strategic waterway, critical for global oil shipments, remains a flashpoint. Iran asserts control and threatens renewed disruption if challenged.

Notable Quote:

• Abbas Aradji (01:00):

  "Any attempt to adopt new or separate arrangements from those currently being implemented by the Islamic Republic of Iran will only complicate the situation, delay the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and raise the level of tension, as we witnessed over the past two nights... I urge all parties not to interfere in the management of the Strait of Hormuz or in the arrangements being made by the Islamic Republic of Iran to reopen the Strait."

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2. Venezuela Earthquake Disaster

[01:13 – 02:14]

• Death Toll & Missing: Over 1,400 confirmed dead; tens of thousands still missing after two powerful earthquakes devastated Venezuela’s coastline, especially in the state of La Guaira.
• On the Ground: NPR’s Eder Peralta describes scenes of total destruction—collapsed buildings, desperate families, and dangerous rescue conditions.
• Local Voices: Survivors and families defy warnings to keep searching for loved ones amid grim conditions.

Notable Quote:

• Eder Peralta (01:52):

  "All that's left is a bangled mess of rebars. And in a pile of concrete that is now stacked five stories high, the families are desperately looking for their loved ones... The smell of death fills the air, but they want to find their loved ones, dead or alive."

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3. U.S. Housing Legislation Standoff

[02:14 – 03:10]

• Status: House Speaker Mike Johnson announces a bipartisan bill to make housing more affordable will be sent to the White House, anticipating presidential approval.
• Political Tension: Former President Trump previously refused to sign, insisting on prior passage of the “Save America Act,” which tightens election laws.
• Analysis: NPR’s Mara Liasson discusses Trump’s frustration over legislative limits and the political risks Republicans face if the housing bill is blocked.

Notable Quote:

• Mara Liasson (02:45):

  “I think it's an expression of how frustrated Donald Trump is about the limits of his power, because he sees his power as unlimited... Republicans think holding up the housing bill could hurt them in the midterms. Democrats certainly will take advantage of it.”

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4. France Skydiving Plane Crash

[03:10 – 03:36]

• Incident: A skydiving plane crashed in northeastern France near a shopping center, killing all 11 on board. Remarkably, no ground casualties.
• Investigation: Authorities are probing the cause of the crash.

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5. Mel Brooks Turns 100

[03:36 – 04:25]

• Celebration: Legendary comedian and filmmaker Mel Brooks turns 100. NPR’s Bob Mondello highlights Brooks’ comedic career, noting his milestone and referencing beloved characters and films.
• Upcoming Work: Despite his age, Brooks is readying a sequel, “Spaceballs: The New One,” for 2027.

Memorable Moments:

• Bob Mondello (03:39):

  "He's turned 100, which still makes him a spring chicken next to the character he and Carl Reiner made famous—2000 years old."

• Playful exchange between Mondello and Eder Peralta, referencing “the 2000 Year Old Man” skit.

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6. NASA’s Swift Observatory Rescue

[04:25 – 04:59]

• Loose Satellite: NASA plans to intercept and boost the aging Swift Observatory, which is losing altitude due to solar activity.
• Innovation: A spacefaring robot—about the size of a small refrigerator, equipped with three arms—will attempt the rescue, launching as soon as this week.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Iran Missiles & Strait of Hormuz: 00:17 – 01:13
• Venezuela Earthquake Destruction: 01:13 – 02:14
• US Housing Bill Political Standoff: 02:14 – 03:10
• France Skydiving Plane Crash: 03:10 – 03:36
• Mel Brooks Turns 100: 03:36 – 04:25
• NASA's Swift Observatory Mission: 04:25 – 04:59

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Notable Quotes

• Abbas Aradji (01:00):

  “Any attempt to adopt new or separate arrangements... will only complicate the situation, delay the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and raise the level of tension...”

• Eder Peralta (01:52):

  “...families are desperately looking for their loved ones... The smell of death fills the air, but they want to find their loved ones, dead or alive.”

• Mara Liasson (02:45):

  “I think it's an expression of how frustrated Donald Trump is about the limits of his power...”

• Bob Mondello (03:39):

  "He's turned 100, which still makes him a spring chicken next to the character he and Carl Reiner made famous—2000 years old.”

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This newscast offers a succinct but rich briefing on major stories shaping the day, blending somber headlines with moments of cultural levity and technological innovation.

Transcript

[Bob Mondello]

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[Nora Ram]

Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Ram. Iran carried out a series of drone and missile attacks in Bahrain and Kuwait overnight, responding to a new round of US Airstrikes on Tehran. Speaking. Speaking through a BBC interpreter, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Aradji called on all parties to abide by the memo of understanding signed with the U.S.

[Abbas Aradji]

any attempt to adopt new or separate arrangements from those currently being implemented by the Islamic Republic of Iran will only complicate the situation, delay the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and raise the level of tension, as we witnessed over the past two nights, with incidents in the Strait of Hormuz that led to increased tensions and clashes. I urge all parties not to interfere in the management of the Strait of Hormuz or in the arrangements being made by the Islamic Republic of Iran to reopen the Strait.

[Nora Ram]

Iran says any challenge to its control of the Strait will jeopardize its reopening. International rescue teams have joined efforts in Venezuela to find tens of thousands of people believed missing after last week's earthquakes. More than 1,400 people died. NPR's Eder Peralta reports. Destruction is widespread.

[Eder Peralta]

The whole coast of the state of Lauida is now lined with utter destruction. Right now I'm in front of what used to be a 16 story building, Belo Horizonte Towers, that overlooked the Caribbean. The two earthquakes have turned it into a pile of rubble. All that's left is a bangled mess of rebars. And in a pile of concrete that is now stacked five stories high, the families are desperately looking for their loved ones. They say one rescue crew said it was too dangerous to work here, but they continue digging. The smell of death fills the air, but they want to find their loved ones, dead or alive. Air PALTA In Catia La Mar, Venezuela,

[Nora Ram]

House Speaker Mike Johnson says he'll send to the White House tomorrow a bipartisan bill designed to make housing more affordable and and he thinks the president will sign it. Trump had refused to sign it last week, saying Congress must first approve the Save America act, which tightens election laws. NPR's Mar Liasson has more.

[Mara Liasson]

I think it's an expression of how frustrated Donald Trump is about the limits of his power, because he sees his power as unlimited. That's how he's described it, whether it's his own Republicans in the Senate who, although they are pretty loyal to him, don't do every single thing he wants, what when he wants it. And he was hoping to pass this bill and he has said if we pass this bill, we win the midterms. If we don't pass the SAVE act, we won't. Now Republicans think holding up the housing bill could hurt them in the midterms. Democrats certainly will take advantage of it. I can imagine them starting to run ads that say, you know, Congress voted to help you buy a home. Donald Trump is not on your side.

[Nora Ram]

NPR's Mara Liasson. This is NPR News. In Washington. A skydiving plane crashed in northeastern France this morning. Authorities say all 11 people on board were killed. The plane went down near a shopping center. No one on the ground was hurt. The cause is under investigation. Comedian Mel Brooks is celebrating a major milestone today. NPR's Bob Mondello has details.

[Bob Mondello]

He's turned 100, which still makes him a spring chicken next to the character he and Carl Reiner made famous 2000 years old. Is that true, sir?

[Eder Peralta]

Yes.

[Nora Ram]

You want to see my driver's license?

[Bob Mondello]

2000 year old man had seen it all. And so had Brooks in his movies. In History of the world, part one, he was Moses given unto you these 15, 10, 10 commandments. He played the lead in his spoof of Vertigo and even sang the title song. And after creating get smart for TV, writing and directing 11 feature films and turning two of them into Broadway musicals, the hundred year old Mel Brooks has another movie on on the way, Spaceballs, the new one. It's just like the old one, but it's newer. Look for that in 2027. Bob Mondello, NPR News.

[Nora Ram]

NASA is planning a mission to keep an aging telescope from crashing to Earth. The Swift Observatory, launched in 2004, has been sinking faster and faster because of intense solar activity. NASA will send a space robot to boost it into a higher, more stable orbit. The the robot's about the size of a small refrigerator. It has three arms with finger like pinching grippers. It could be launched as early as this week and reach the telescope in about a month. I'm Nora Ramm, NPR News, in Washington. This message comes from Mint Mobile. If you're tired of spending hundreds on big wireless bills, bogus fees and free perks, Mint Mobile is for you. Shop [e-mail] Switch taxes and fees extra. See Mint Mobile for details.